Stirring-in or mixing device



(No Model.) v

" W. H. HOWARD.

STIR'RING IN 0R MIXING DEVICE.

No. 529,617. Patented-Nov. 20, 1894.,

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NITED STATns NVILLIAM H. HOWARD, OF PUEBLO, COLORADO.

STIRRING-IN OR MIXING DEVICE..

- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 529,617, datedNovember 20, 1894.

Application filed April 5, 1894. Serial No. 506,458- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. HOWARD, of Pueblo, in the county ofPueblo and State of Colorado, have invented a new and ImprovedStirring-in or Mixing Device, of which the following is a full, clear,and exact description.

The invention relates to the process of alloying the silver contained inmolten argentiferous lead, with zinc; and its object is to provide a newand improved device for conveniently and thoroughly mixing the zinc withthe molten argentiferous lead, and without danger of oxidizing andrendering the zinc inert, as is so frequently the case with the meansheretofore employed'.

The invention consists of certain parts and details, and combinations ofthe same, as will be fully described hereinafter and then pointed out inthe claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in both figures.

Figure l is 'a transverse section of the improvoment as applied; andFig. 2 is a side elevation of the improvement.

The pot A into which iows the molten argentiferous lead from thefurnace, is adapted to be closed by a cover or lid B, formed on itsunder side with au annular flange B passing into the molten lead, so aslto seal vthe same, to prevent atmospheric air from passing into the potA. The cover B is supported by chains C from a hoisting deviceDof anyapproved construction, connected with a traveling carriage E adapted tomove forward or backwardso as to move the cover B from one pot A toanother.

On the under side of the cover B is arranged a cylinder F extending asuitable distance into the molten argentiferous lead, as is plainlyillustrated in Fig. 1, the said cylinder being supported by suitablerodsor bars F, bolted or otherwise secured to the under side of the cover B.In this cylinder F is mounted to revolve a stirring device G,.preferably made in the shape of a propeller wheel secured on a propellershaft G disposed vertically and passing through the cover B and p astuffing box H, attached to the top ofv the said cover, as is plainlyshown in Fig. 1, so as ing of 'the silver with the said zinc.

to prevent atmospheric air from passing into the pot A after the cover Bis placed on top of the pot.

The shaft G is journaled Iin suitable bearings in a frame-work I securedto the top of the cover B, and on said shaft is fastened a bevel gearwheel G2 in mesh with a bevel gear wheel J secured on alongitudinallyextending shaft J, journaled in suitable bearings i'n the said frame I.On the shaft J is arranged a driving pulley J2 connected by aV belt Kwith a pulley K on a shaft K2 driven from suitable machinery, so thatwhen the said belt K connects the pulley K with the pulley J2, then thesaid shaft J is rotated and its rotary motion is transmitted by the gearwheels J and G2 to the propellershaft G', so that the propeller wheelforming the agitating device G is rotated within the cylinder F. As thelatter is open at the top and bottom, the molten metal in the pot A isstirred up, to completely mix the zinc with the molten argentiferouslead, to insure a perfect alloy The operation is as follows: When thepot A is charged with the argentiferous lead, then Athe cover B isbrought over the said pot A by as indicated in Fig. 1, and then thecover B is lowered by the hoisting device D until it extends to within afew inches of the top surface of the said pot A. At this time the zincbars are slipped into the pot A below the lower surface of the cover B,and then asmall quantity of crude oil a is scattered over the surface ofthe lead contained in the said pot A. The oil ignites by comingincontact with the molten metal, and it burns out the oxygen contained inthe air between the surface of the molten lead in the pot A and theunder side of the cover B,thus forming an inert gas between the topsurface of the molten metal and the under side of the cover B. Thelatter is then immediately lowered and clamped or otherwise fastened tothe pot A, whereby the wholesurface of the lead is completely sealedfrom outside air. Connection is then made by the belt K between thepulleys K and J 2, so that the stirrer G is rotated in the molten metalto agitato the molten argentiferous metal and mix the latter with'thezinc, which is, by this time, melted, so that finally IOC the silvercontained in the argentiferous lead alloys with the zinc, without thelatter coming in contact with any particle of the atmospheric air. Bythis process less zinc is required, as none of it becomes oxidized whenstirring and mixing it, and the product of silver zinc alloy finallyproduced is in a far better shape for the subsequent operation ofliquation, as it parts more readily with its mechanically combined lead.

It will further be seen that considerable time and labor is saved by theprocess described, as the stirring and mixing is done by themechanically driven stirrer G instead of by hand with ladles, asheretofore practiced.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patentl. A stirring or mixing device, comprising acover formed on its under side with an annular iiange adapted to passinto molten argentiferous lead contained in a pot upon which the coverfits, and a stirring device held on the under side of the cover andarranged to pass into the lead, substantially as described.

2. A stirring or mixing device, comprising a cover formed on its underside with an annular flange adapted to pass into molten argentiferouslead contained in a pot upon which a cover tits, and a stirring deviceheld on the under side of the cover and arranged to pass into the lead,the said stirring device comprising a cylinder open at the top andbottom and supported by brackets from the under side of the said cover,a propeller Wheel mounted to rotate in the said cylinder and means forimparting a rotary motion to the shaft, of the said propeller Wheel,substantially as herein shown and described.

3. Inastirring or mixing device of the character described, thecombination with a travcling carriage, of a cover for the pot containingthe material to be stirred or mixed, a stirring device carried by thecover, and a hoisting device connected with the cover and" carriage,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. -In a stirring or mixing device ofthe character described, thecombination With a pot, and a traveling carriage arranged above the pot,of a flanged cover for the pot, a cylinder open at top and bottom andsuspended from the cover, a stirrer in the cylinder having its shaftmounted in the cover, means for operating the stirrer, and a hoistingdevice connected with the cover and carriage, substantially asdescribed.

WILLIAM H. HOWARD.

Witnesses:

H. G. WILLIAMS, W. W. COOPER.

